The elusive vegetable

From newborn to 6 months, my biggest concern and worry was Calan's sleeping and how to get him to sleep regularly and through the night and during naps and in his crib, etc. Now that I got that down, I worry about his food. Am I setting good eating habits, is he getting enough, will he transition to milk, will he ever just eat his green vegetables? The questions and concerns don't end. 

He eats a lot of things, but somethings are obviously better for him than others. Already, I am noticing that he loves the not so good things over the good things. I am already trying to hide vegetables in other foods to get him to eat them. Green beans in apple sauce, carrots with a little brown sugar, broccoli blended with cheese. I know that none of these are bad things per se, but I am hoping that it isn't a trend for the future. I hate food battles. 

If the vegetable is not to his liking he spits it out or tries to block the spoon. I know that he is just showing me that he is not liking it, but he can't live on fruit and bread. I am staying persistent and just  try to get at least half of what I planned to give him veggie-wise even if it gets spooned in with a little apple sauce or something like it. 

I just want to set up good eating habits. I am trying to avoid a picky eater and trying to avoid giving in to his preferences. I know that he will eat the veggies, but he knows that there is always something better that is going to be offered, so for the first 5 minutes of each meal is usually me trying to get him to keep his hands away from my spoon and the veggie in his mouth. If I get through that, then I give him some fruit or bread or whatever is on the menu. 

I do have to say that planning his meals has gotten a lot easier. I can just go to my refrigerator or pantry and find something for him to eat. There is not a ton of prep work in advance anymore and that is fantastic. I need him to eat pretty self-sufficiently come July. I am not trying to push him before he is ready, but I know that if he can munch on a finger-food size strawberry, he should be able to eat some broccoli.